Quality-of-Life assessment and clinical-laboratory response to use of the combination of menthol, guaiacol, terpineol, eucalyptol, gomenol, and camphor in patients presenting persistent cough / Avaliação da qualidade de vida e resposta clínico-laboratorial ao uso da associação de mentol, guaiacol, terpinol, eucaliptol, gomenol e cânfora em pacientes apresentando tosse persistente

We evaluated the use of a combination of menthol, guaiacol, terpineol, eucalyptol, gomenol, and camphor injection in patients presenting persistent cough who were submitted to a 7-day treatment regimen with daily doses of the medication and a series of clinical and laboratory evaluations, including a quality-of-life questionnaire, spirometry, and assessments of overall condition by the patient and the physician, performed prior to the first dose of medication, after three days of treatment, and at the end of the 7-day treatment period. The use of concomitant medications and the incidence, severity and duration of adverse events were also evaluated. A total of sixty-one patients were included in the study. There were no clinically significant changes in vital signs, laboratory tests, or spirometry throughout the treatment period. A statistically significant improvement (p<0.0001) in the assessments of overall condition by the patient and physician was observed, and there was a statistically significant improvement in the scores of the quality-of-life questionnaire (p<0.0001). While adverse events were recorded, none were serious and all were resolved by the end of the treatment period. Based on the results of this study, we conclude that the combination of menthol, guaiacol, terpineol, eucalyptol, gomenol, and camphor in the form of an intramuscular injection was safe and effective ameliorating the effects of persistent cough in the quality of life of the patient population evaluated.

Osteoarthritis: clinical evaluation of diclofenac combined with the B complex vitamins / Osteoartrite: avaliação clínica da ação do diclofenaco com as vitaminas do complexo B

A double-blind, placebo controlled evaluation was performed on parallel groups of patients presenting osteoarthritis of the knee, hip or hand. The study aimed to evaluate the use of a combination of sustained-release diclofenac and vitamins B1, B6 and B12 in the treatment of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis. After screening and informed consent, randomized subjects underwent a 7-day treatment period with twice-daily oral therapy. Osteoarthritis pain, mobility and satisfaction assessments by both the subjects and the investigating physician were performed at each of the three visits to the study center before, during and at the end of the treatment period, along with physical examinations, laboratory evaluations and monitoring of adverse events and concomitant medications. Results were compared between the active and placebo treated groups (Group A and Group B, respectively).The active treatment was found to be superior to placebo in all of the pain, mobility and satisfaction assessments. Patients treated with the active substance were more willing to continue treatment at the end of the study. No significant difference was observed between the treatment groups in the physical examinations and laboratory evaluations performed.Based on the results observed in this double-blind clinical evaluation, we conclude that the combination of sustained-release diclofenac and vitamins B1, B6 and B12 is both well-tolerated and superior to placebo in the treatment of the signs and symptoms of OA in the study population evaluated.

Treatment of inflammatory neuropathy with dexamethasone plus B-vitamins: a clinical evaluation / Tratamento de neuropatia inflamatória com a associação de dexametasona e vitaminas B: uma avaliação clínica

We evaluated the use of a combination of vitamins B1, B6, and B12 with dexamethasone in the treatment of the signs and symptoms of inflammatory neuropathy of the upper and lower limbs, in an open-label clinical trial. Patients were submitted to a 9-day treatment period with three doses of study medication at three day intervals, and a series of clinical and laboratory assessments, prior to the first dose of study medication and at each of the following three visits to the study center. Efficacy evaluations at each study visit included a 100mm VAS pain scale and global and satisfaction surveys completed by the patient and the investigating physician. Safety evaluations included a comparison of changes in laboratory evaluations at each visit and the incidence, severity, duration, and outcome of adverse events. A total of sixty-one patients were enrolled in the trial. A clinically significant improvement in all of the efficacy measures was observed from the pre-treatment to end-of-study evaluations. No clinically significant alterations in clinical assessments were observed during the treatment period. Based on the results of this clinical study, we conclude that the combination of dexamethasone with the B-vitamins is safe and effective in the treatment of the signs and symptoms of inflammatory neuropathy.

A Review of Scientific Papers About Head and Neck Cancers

Head and neck cancer is one of the 10 most frequent cancers worldwide, with an estimated 500000 new cases diagnosed annually. Treatment of head and neck cancers require a multidisciplinary approach due their complexity and the functional and esthetic alterations that cancer can cause. The interest of the scientific community in a specific subject can be evaluated by analyzing of the number and the quality of published papers on the topic. The information obtained from PubMed (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez) has been used as a tool in various publications to aid the evaluation of the scientific interest in specific research areas The aim of this work is to evaluate, using PubMed, the scientific interest in studies of head and neck cancer treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery. The searches were performed on PubMed for publications from the period of 1949 to 2008 using the search terms "head and neck cancer" and "surgery" or "radiotherapy" or "chemotherapy". The number of publications per year was determined in each search. The percentage of publications was also calculated for each subject in each year. An interest factor in a subject (IFS) was also determined. The number of publications was higher for surgery than chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The calculated 1964 IFS for surgery was 14.79, 12.74 for radiotherapy, and 19.58 for chemotherapy. The 1995 IFS for surgery was 1.99, 2.09 for radiotherapy, and 2.08 for chemotherapy. The relation obtained for 1995 was maintained in the subsequent years. There are more publications related to surgical treatment for head and neck cancer when compared with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Moreover, in the recent years there has an increased interest in treatments utilizing chemotherapy, or this associated to radiotherapy.

O câncer de cabeça e pescoço é um dos 10 mais freqüentes cânceres no mundo, com um número de 50000 novos casos diagnosticados anualmente. O tratamento dos cânceres de cabeça e pescoço requer uma abordagem multidisciplinar devido a sua complexidade e a alterações funcionais e estéticas que o câncer pode causar. O interesse da comunidade científica em um objeto pode ser avaliado pela análise do número e da qualidade dos artigos publicados. A informação obtida do PubMed (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez) tem sido usada como uma ferramenta em várias publicações para ajudar a avaliação do interesse científico em áreas de pesquisa específicas. O objetivo desse trabalho é avaliar, usando o PubMed, o interesse científico em estudar os tratamentos do câncer de cabeça e pescoço, tais como a radioterapia, a quimioterapia e a cirurgia. As pesquisas foram realizadas no PubMed para publicações de 1949 a 2008 usando os termos de pesquisa "head and neck cancer"e"surgery" ou "radiotherapy" ou "chemotherapy". O número de publicações (NP) por ano foi determinado para cada pesquisa. A percentagem de publicações ( por centoP) também foi calculada para cada objeto em cada ano. Um fator de interesse em um objeto (IFS) também foi determinado. O NP foi maior para cirurgia do que para quimioterapia ou radioterapia. O IFS calculado em 1964 para cirurgia foi 14,79; 12,74 para radioterapia; e 19,58 para quimioterapia. Em 1995 o IFS foi 1,99 para cirurgia, 2,09 para radioterapia e 2,08 para quimioterapia. A relação obtida para 1995 foi mantida nos anos subseqüentes. Existem mais publicações relacionadas ao tratamento cirúrgico para o câncer de cabeça e pescoço quando comparadas com radioterapia ou quimioterapia. Além disso, nos últimos anos tem existido um aumento no interesse em tratamentos utilizando a quimioterapia, ou ela associada à radioterapia.

Recurrent urinary tract infections: evaluation of the prophylactic efficacy of urinary antiseptics methenamine and methylthioninium chloride / Infecções do trato urinário recorrentes: avaliação da eficácia profilática dos anti-sépticos urinários metenamina e cloreto de metiltionínio

Introduction: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a very common condition in clinical practice, affecting an estimated 50% of all adult women during a lifetime. The most common causative agent is E. coli UTI may also be caused by S. saprophyticus, Enterobacteria (Klebsiella sp and Serratia sp.), Enterococcus sp., and P. aeruginosa. Recurrent UTIs occur at least twice per semester or three times a year. Prophylactic measures to prevent recurrent UTIs include changes in contraception methods, cranberry products, increased fluid intake, urination after intercourse, vaginal estrogen therapy for post-menopausal women, antibiotics, and urinary tract antiseptic agents. Objectives: To evaluate the use of a combination of methenamine and methylthioninium chloride in the prophylaxis of recurrent uncomplicated lower UTIs, with respect to: · Signs and symptoms of UTI· Etiologic agent(s)· Recurrence rates· Need for antibiotic therapy in case of recurrence · Incidence of adverse events associated with the treatment, including any reported alterations of laboratory testsMaterials & methods: A descriptive, analytic, restrospective study was performed at Hospital Universitário Constantino Otaviano - UNIFESO. Medical charts from patients presenting recurrent uncomplicated lower UTI attended from 2001-present were analyzed, including the following information: Demographic data (age, gender, weight, ethnicity, living conditions) medical history/ signs and symptoms of UTI identification of treatment and dosing regimens treatment duration recurrence rates and need for antibiotic therapy in case of recurrence other medications prescribed and records of adverse events. Results: E. coli was identified as etiologic agent in 80% of the patients. Following antibiotic therapy, all patients received prophylactic treatment with the combination of methenamine and methylthioninium chloride. Treatment duration ranged from three to six months. Adverse events were observed in 13/60 patients...

Introdução: A infecção do trato urinário é bastante comum na prática clínica, afetando aproximadamente 50% de todas as mulheres adultas em algum momento da vida. O agente etiológico mais comum é a E. coli. A ITU pode também ser causada por S. saprophyticus, Enterobactérias (Klebsiella sp. e Serratia sp.), Enterococcus sp. e P. aeruginosa. ITUs recorrentes ocorrem ao menos duas vezes por semestre ou três vezes ao ano. Medidas profiláticas para prevenir a recorrência incluem alterações nos métodos contraceptivos, produtos de oxicoco, aumento da ingestão de fluidos, micção após a relação sexual, e terapia vaginal de estrogênio para mulheres em pós-menopausa, bem como antibióticos e anti-sépticos urinários. Objetivos: Avaliar o uso da combinação de de metentamina e cloreto de metiltionínio na profilaxia de ITUs recorrentes não-complicados, com respeito à: · Sinais e sintomas de ITU · Agente etiológico · Número de recorrências · Necessidade de terapia antibiótica em caso de recorrência · Incidência de efeitos adversos do tratamento, inclusive quaisquer alterações de exames laboratoriais. Materiais e métodos: Foi realizado um estudo descritivo, analítico, retrospectivo no Hospital Universitário Constantino Otaviano – UNIFESO. Prontuários médicos disponíveis de pacientes apresentando ITU recorrente não complicada, atendidos de 2001-presente foram analisados, incluindo-se as seguintes informações: dados demográficos (idade, sexo, peso, etnia, condições habitacionais) histórico médico/ sinais e sintomas de ITU identificação do tratamento e regime de tratamento recorrência necessidade de tratamento antibiótico no caso de recorrência outros medicamentos prescritos e registro de efeitos adversos. Resultados: E. coli foi identificado como agente etiológico em 80% dos pacientes. Após terapia antibiótica, todos os pacientes receberam tratamento profilático com a combinação de metenamina e cloreto de metiltionínio. A duração do tratamento variou entre três a seis meses...

Incresead DNA content and nuclear phenotypic alterations associated with mechanical load in wrap-around joint chiken tendons*

Tendons are highly superstructures with a capacity to respond to variation in load. Fibroblasts in tendon cartilage respond to mechanical stimuli through metaplasia and the expression of new synthetic activities fallowing gene activation. In study we examined the changes in the nuclear phenotypes of calcaneus communis and flexor digitorum superficiales tendons in 21-and 41-day-old chickens. Video image analysis was used to examine fibroblasts in Feugen-stained tendon sections. The parameters studient included integrated optical desnsity, optical density, nuclear area, feret-ratio, gray average. standard deviation of the gray average per nucleus, and entropy. Compared to diploid chicken erythocytes, fibroblasts had larger amounts of DNA in the G2 phase and showed polyploidy. The DNA content of the fibroblasts incresead with age. In both tendons, the nuclei of 41-day-old chickens had a higher DNA content and optical density, i.e. more packed chromatin, than in 21-day-old chickens. The linear correlation of nuclear area vs integrated optical density (R2 por cento) was greater in flexor digitorum superficialis than in calcaneus communis nuclei. The latter showed a marked dispersion around the fitted line, with R2=0,44 por cento for 41-day-old chickens. The high feret-ratios of calcaneus communis nuclei indicated more spherical nuclei. These results show that fibroblast nuclei in both types of tendon respond to a compressive load around the articulation type involved. Molecular order and collagen fiber crystallinity apparently contribute to signaling by the extracellular matrix to the cells analized here.